Railroad-switch



(ModeL) r T. SOL'T.

Railroad Switch.

No. 234,436. Patented Nov. 16,1880.

jive/nigh:

R. WASHINGTON, D c

NI'IED STATES Erica.

"ATENT RAI LROAD-SWITCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 234,436, dated November16, 1880.

Application filed June 26, 1878.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, THOMAS SOLT, ofRockport, county of Carbon, and State of Pennsylvania, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Railroad-Switches and I do herebydeclare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description ofthe invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same, reference being bad to theaccompanyingdrawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, whichform a part of this specification.

Figure 1 is a plan view, and Fig. 2 a side elevation.

The object of my invention is to provide a railroad-switch that willprevent the movable ends of the switch-rails B coming in contact withthe ends of the permanent or fixed rails H by expansion, also to preventthem from separating too far by contraction, the trouble with theordinary switches being that they will bind at their ends by expansionand separate too l'ar by contraction, so that the wheels of the cargoing over the switch will batter and destroy the ends of the rails Band H.

My plan for preventing the above-mentioned difficulties is to providebinders A, made of iron rails or other material, fastened firmly to thehead-shoe D and tail-shoe E, for the purpose of preventing the movableends of the rails B coming in contact with rails H, and to prevent theirseparating too far. I accomplish this by fastening the binders A to thehead-shoe D and tail-shoe E, for this will hold the headshoe D andtail-shoe E always at the right distance, corresponding with theexpansion and contraction of the switch-rails B. The rails H are fixedfirmly to the head-shoe D with the binders A. The switch-rails B arefastened to the tail-shoe E with the binders A. These fastenings holdthe ends of the switch-rails B'always at the same distance from the endsof the rails H. I also fix under and near the ends of switch-rails Blugs (J,witl1 lips extending under the head-shoe D, for the purpose ofpre venting the end of rails B from jumping up and down. This will savethe ends of the rails, and the cars will pass over smoothly withoutstriking. This jumping up and down of the end of the switch-rails onother switches is the cause of a great deal of annoyance, trouble, andexpense.

My switch will answer for any number of tracks or turn-outs.

The head and tail chairs or shoes I make to extend entirely across thetrack and outside the binders; the result whereof is, that when thebinders are applied outside entirely of the fixed and switch rails, andnot immediately beneath them, they, with the chairs, constitute a rigidframe-work, in which the switch works. It, with the binders so applied,the chairs were divided midway of the sleeper, the device would berickety and insufficient for the purpose.

The head and tail shoes are provided with ribs, as shown, to assist inholding the stationary rail ends against lateral displacement.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination, in a switch, of the stationary and switch rails, thebinders, and head and tail chairs, said chairs extending entirely acrossthe track and outside of the binders, and having rigidly secured theretothe stationary rail ends, the binders, and the fixed ends of thes\vitc'lirails. v

2. In combination with the switch constructed substantially as hereindescribed and shown, the ribs arranged upon the head and tail shoes, andadapted to hold the stationary rail ends against lateral displacement.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I. affix my signaturein presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS SOLT.

lVitnesses JOHN H. KEEFER, F. H. MosER.

